Krishna condoles demise of Arunachal CM Khandu
May 4th, 2011 - 2:25 pm ICT by ANINew Delhi, May 4 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna on Wednesday condoled the sad demise of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who has been killed in a chopper crash in Lobothong near Tawang District.
In a statement, Krishna said: “I am deeply pained to receive confirmation of the tragic and untimely demise of a great son of India and the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu.”
“He was dedicated to the cause of improving the quality of lives of the people of the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh,” he added.
He further said: “In his (Khandu) death, the state and country has lost a visionary administrator and an excellent human being. I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to members of his family and friends.
The missing Pawan Hans AS350 B-3 helicopter that took off from Tawang at 9.50 a.m. on Saturday lost communication with the ground after it flew past the Sela Pass along the Chinese border about 20 to 25 minutes later. The helicopter was scheduled to land in Itanagar at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday.
On Saturday, several media reports quoted Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (retired) J J Singh and Chief Secretary Bam as saying that the helicopter had landed safely somewhere in Eastern Bhutan adjoining Tawang district and that the same helicopter was flying back to Guwahati with the chief minister on board.
Bhutan, however, later denied that any Indian helicopter had landed in its territory, but said a search operation was launched following a request from New Delhi.
Apart from Khandu, the people on board included crew members Captain J S Babbar and Captain K S Malick, Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lamu, sister of Tawang legislator Tsewang Dhondup. (ANI)
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- Three bodies seen at crash site in Lobothang: Chidamabaram - May 04, 2011
- Bodies of Arunachal CM Khandu, 4 others taken to Tawang - May 05, 2011
- Ground search for Arunachal CM Khandu continues - May 03, 2011
- Khandu's death: Arunachal announces seven-day state mourning - May 05, 2011
- Search continues for missing Arunachal CM along Indo-Bhutan border - May 02, 2011
- Arunachal has witnessed several air crashes - May 01, 2011
- Chopper carrying Arunachal chief minister still missing (Night Lead) - May 01, 2011
- Two Sukhoi jets, 30 other aircraft searching for missing Arunachal CM - May 01, 2011
- ISRO deploys satellites to search for missing Arunachal Pradesh CM - May 01, 2011
- Eyewitnesses in Bhutan say they saw chopper trying to land - May 01, 2011
- Over 1000 villagers search for missing Arunachal CM - May 01, 2011
- Pawan Hans says missing chopper was in perfect condition - May 01, 2011
- No trace yet of Arunachal CM, search enters fifth day - May 04, 2011
- Wreckage of Arunachal chief minister's chopper found (Lead) - May 04, 2011
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